Published: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at 9:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at 9:38 p.m.

Job Savage is upbeat about life. After all, he has lived a long one. At 99 years old, he can only be described as inspiring and amazing.

He maintains a fitness regime, working out twice a week with a trainer.

He walks slowly but surely. And he can tell a story with such description that you feel you lived it with him.

Born in November 1914, he has traveled the world, written books and dined in the royal palace of Basel, Switzerland, after World War II. Through it all, he has never forgotten his childhood roots or the importance of looking ahead to the future.

Born in Tarboro, Savage lost his mother when he was 8. His father, a farmer emphasized the importance of education.

Savage attended Wake Forest and Louisburg College, where he met fellow student Agnes Chastin of Wilmington. The two married in 1938 and begin a life that would not see them return to Wilmington for nearly six decades.

“World War II was a big part of things,” he said. “I volunteered as a candidate for officer training and I moved from Burlington, North Carolina, to Louisiana to Texas to New York, at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard.”

Savage remembers listening to a young unknown singer in a New York City establishment during the war. That singer was Frank Sinatra.

Then overseas duties came. Savage said he served at the formation of the 558th Automatic Weapons Battalion, and he believes that he may be the last surviving member of the battalion.

Savage remained in Europe for six months after the war ended there. In Europe, celebrations were at a high.

As an officer, Savage had the opportunity to spend the night in an ornate palace. The festivities were like nothing he'd ever seen.

Savage returned to Agnes and eventually earning a Ph.D. Agriculture Economics from the University of Wisconsin. He began a long career with the Department of Agriculture that would lead him to more than 40 countries across the globe.

At age 80, Savage finally retired, but he was not ready to sit down.

He has authored three published books ranging from his time in Katmandu to agriculture issues to a detailed family history. His plan is to write an update for his book, “From Tarboro to Katmandu,” now available at Amazon.com.

And he believes in fitness. Savage trains twice a week with local Wilmington trainer Paul Sabella. He has always been a big believer in the importance of exercise and says that he has been involved in athletics since he was a young man.

He admits he has slowed down but at 99, he does remarkably well.

“I've always wanted to go to the top as far as I could go and achieve and accomplish as much as possible,” Savage said. “I don't believe in giving up.”

<p>Job Savage is upbeat about life. After all, he has lived a long one. At 99 years old, he can only be described as inspiring and amazing.</p><p>He maintains a fitness regime, working out twice a week with a trainer.</p><p>He walks slowly but surely. And he can tell a story with such description that you feel you lived it with him.</p><p>Born in November 1914, he has traveled the world, written books and dined in the royal palace of Basel, Switzerland, after World War II. Through it all, he has never forgotten his childhood roots or the importance of looking ahead to the future.</p><p>Born in Tarboro, Savage lost his mother when he was 8. His father, a farmer emphasized the importance of education.</p><p> Savage attended Wake Forest and Louisburg College, where he met fellow student Agnes Chastin of Wilmington. The two married in 1938 and begin a life that would not see them return to Wilmington for nearly six decades.</p><p>“World War II was a big part of things,” he said. “I volunteered as a candidate for officer training and I moved from Burlington, North Carolina, to Louisiana to Texas to New York, at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard.”</p><p>Savage remembers listening to a young unknown singer in a New York City establishment during the war. That singer was Frank Sinatra.</p><p>Then overseas duties came. Savage said he served at the formation of the 558th Automatic Weapons Battalion, and he believes that he may be the last surviving member of the battalion.</p><p>Savage remained in Europe for six months after the war ended there. In Europe, celebrations were at a high.</p><p>As an officer, Savage had the opportunity to spend the night in an ornate palace. The festivities were like nothing he'd ever seen.</p><p>Savage returned to Agnes and eventually earning a Ph.D. Agriculture Economics from the University of Wisconsin. He began a long career with the Department of Agriculture that would lead him to more than 40 countries across the globe.</p><p>At age 80, Savage finally retired, but he was not ready to sit down.</p><p>He has authored three published books ranging from his time in Katmandu to agriculture issues to a detailed family history. His plan is to write an update for his book, “From Tarboro to Katmandu,” now available at Amazon.com.</p><p>And he believes in fitness. Savage trains twice a week with local Wilmington trainer Paul Sabella. He has always been a big believer in the importance of exercise and says that he has been involved in athletics since he was a young man.</p><p>He admits he has slowed down but at 99, he does remarkably well. </p><p>“I've always wanted to go to the top as far as I could go and achieve and accomplish as much as possible,” Savage said. “I don't believe in giving up.”</p><p>Community News: 343-2364</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNewsOnline</p>